vCenter Server Installation

vCenter is a centralized management platform used to manage a set of VMs , ESXi hosts and other components from a single centralized location.

vCenter Server can be deployed in three forms-

On a windows VM.

On windows physical server

As vCenter server appliance

In this post we will learn how to install vCenter on an ESXi host Virtual Machine.

vCenter Server Appliance is a pre-configured Linux Virtual Machine which is optimized to run a vCenter server. The appliance is imported to an ESXi host and is run through a series of installation steps through GUI.

Steps to install vCenter 6.7 server appliance –

If you have a VMware license then you can simply download else you will need to create an account on VMware website and download a evaluation version of VCSA which will be valid for 60 days.

Step 2: Once the ISO file is downloaded extract the file and then browse to following path:

VCPA\vcsa-ui-installer\win32

Look for a file named installer as below:

Step 3: Double click on the installer file and you will get a screen as below with installation options

You see you get option to install a new VCSA or upgrade/migrate etc. from the previous versions of the VCSA.

Step 4: Click on install since we are doing a fresh install

It is just general introduction and on this page click next and you get a End user license agreement. Agree to that as well and click next.

Step 5: Under the deployment type select Embedded Platform Service Controller since in lab we don’t have many ESXi host to manage. If there are multiple ESXi hosts to manage you may go for External PSC option. Click Next.

Step 6: Enter the details of the ESXi host on which you will host this VCSA VM. Give a username and password for VCSA. Click Next.